Way of the World

from The Lost Creek Guide November 18, 2020

Lockdown Count Restaurants at Risk

Page 2 Lost Creek Guide November 18, 2020

– Way of the World – PUC to Take Written Comment Until Dec. 23 on

by Bob Grand Area Code Overlay Plan

The Presidential election is ending, I hope. The most votes ever cast, which is a plus. DENVER — A Public Utilities Commission (PUC) administrative law judge will accept It is so close nationally that there is no call yet. Trump is going through the motions he written comment until Dec. 23, 2020, on a request for approval of a new area code overlay is legally entitled to do. He has that right. Voting has never been perfect, but it rarely has to provide numbering relief for Colorado’s current 303/720 area code.been so close in so many states. The answer is yes there probably are dead people who The North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), the neutral, third-party vote, there are probably people whose ballot is handled by other people, there are exam- numbering relief planner, filed the request in May on behalf of the Colorado telecomples of fraud where, to be generous, overzealous people do things that are questionable. munications industry. Absent the relief, the 303/720 area code is projected to run out of Counting the ballots, and recounting, where appropriate should be done. When that is useable numbers during the second quarter of 2023.completed, and all the reasonable legal challenges are exhausted we should have a result. In order for relief to be implemented before numbering exhaust occurs, the industry is Then we need to move forward. requesting the PUC issue an order no later than fourth quarter of 2021 approving a nine-

If Biden wins there is no massive mandate to radically alter how our government func- month implementation schedule. Adherence to this schedule will allow the new area code tions. Contrary to what the extreme left thinks the country is split about 50 50, how is to be implemented six months prior to the projected exhaust, according to the petition. that a mandate? More to the point it looks like the Republicans will maintain the major- The 303/720 area code covers the north-central portion of Colorado, including the Denver ity in the United States Senate. Georgia has not elected a Democratic Senator in over 70 metro area. years. Nobody is speaking about the United States House of Representatives where the Colorado had just one area code (303) until 1988, when 719 was introduced in southeast Democrats not only did not pick up seats, but they also effectively lost more than a few. Colorado. In 1995, the 970 area code was added to serve the northern and western part of They still hold a majority but barely, possibly as few as 4, depending on races that are the state. Then, in 1998, the 720 area code was overlaid on top of the 303 code to provide still too close to call. Talk of a mandate is certainly being a bit overzealous. The real world number relief in the Denver metro area. says that the Democrats have a particularly good chance of losing control of the House of The proposed all-services overlay would superimpose a new area code over the same Representatives in 2022. If Joe Biden turns out to be the winner, he will not be looking at geographic area covered by the existing 303/720 area code and is projected to last 25 a mandate from the people, as his extreme left was expecting. The reality is that life will years. All existing customers would retain their 303 or 720 area code and would not have be a challenge for the Democrats for the next two years, to change their telephone numbers. The current dialing pattern – 10-digit local calling and

Our elected officials. At all levels, work to be addressing our major issues, of which 1 + 10-digit long distance calling – would remain the same.there are many. The COVID 19 issue is still here, cases are up but average hospital stays Industry participants reached consensus to recommend to the PUC a nine-month are down as well as deaths per unit of measurement. That still does not mean it is resolved. schedule for implementing the all-services overlay. That period would include customer It looks like there will be vaccines available, something the President had said. That does education and network preparation by telecommunications providers. Activation of the not stop the Governor of New York, Mario Cuomo, from saying that New York will have new area code would take place no later than the fourth quarter of 2022.their own criteria for evaluating the vaccines. Like it or not, the hatred for the President Members of the public may submit written comments until Dec. 23 regarding the overruns very deep in the Democratic Party and their extreme leftist base. The President has lay relief plan and the industry’s joint implementation proposal by using the PUC’s on-line not stepped back from the fight and that probably cost him some votes, how many we comment form under proceeding 20V-0192T.will never know. The bottom line is the actions of the Democratically controlled areas, About the PUC especially the major cities, will result in unpresented loss of revenue. Either services will The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) serves the public interest by effectively have to be reduced or taxes raised. With margins so close in the Senate and the House it regulating utilities and facilities so that the people of Colorado receive safe, reliable, and is really questionable whether the federal government will be willing to bail out the urban reasonably-priced services consistent with the economic, environmental and social values areas in a way they would have expected with a Democratic President. of our state.

The State of Colorado will have its own challenges to face. The reduction in revenue About DORA from the travel & tourism trade and especially, oil & gas will give the Governor and his The Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) is dedicated to preserving the integrity party a mighty challenge. The test will be how they address it. Unlike the federal govern- of the marketplace and is committed to promoting a fair and competitive business enviment, Colorado has to have a balanced budget. ronment in Colorado. Consumer protection is our mission. Visit www.colorado.gov/dora

We all, as citizens, have a responsibility to be aware of what our elected officials are for more information or call 303-894-7855/toll free 1-800-886-7675.doing. In the past this was helped by our news media organization, either print or digital. Today that is just not true. The bias that exists is not that of a free democracy. The media highlights the bad issues of who it opposes and, for the most part ignores stories that are negative about the people they support. That is just not a healthy environment for any of us. Today it is one set of opponents, who will it be tomorrow? I am a free market person, but I believe that elected officials should be looking hard at the anti-trust considerations involved in today’s media, both print and social media.

We need to make sure we take some responsibility for holding our elected officials accountable. Sorry but that is how the system is supposed to work. Unfortunately, we, the people, have allowed the two-party structure to deteriorate into party operatives making decisions that have far reaching consequences, for the country, our county and each of us individually.

As usual I appreciate your thoughts and comments: publisher@lostreekguide.com

Thank you for those that have responded, some interesting ideas.

The LosT Creek Guide, LLC

Bob Grand - Publisher 303-732-4080 publisher@lostcreekguide.com Our deadline is 7 lcgnews.com working days before publication 105 Woodward - PO Box 581 Keenesburg, CO 80643

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